Connor

Connor is Alair's doge and one of her few sources of happiness. He was abandoned as barely more than a puppy at Alair's father's house, but he is okay with it. Alair is his best friend.

He used to bark and snarl at Alair's father when he was being mean and got kicked sometimes, so Alair started putting him outside when her father was angry or drunk. Connor was okay even in the winter because there was a yard and his fur is thick and a little shaggy. He likes the snow. It's fun to roll in.

Alair's mom doesn't kick and there's a pond for swimming where he lives now, which he likes a lot even if Alair is around less, except in the summertime. Alair's cousins joke that Connor always barks at white men. Connor isn't very noisy, though. He barks to say hi and at bad people and when no one is feeding him or letting him out or when something else is wrong. Sometimes he howls, though, if he has been left alone long.

Connor has been sprayed once by a skunk and had to take a lot of baths. He hates baths. He doesn't mind being hosed down, though. He puts his face in the water to drink it. He avoids skunks now. He likes chasing rabbits best.

Connor likes running, swimming, and ear scratches. He inexplicably loves Cool Ranch Doritos. Connor learns tricks easily and is pretty obedient, but he needs a lot of exercise or he gets anxious and chews things. He also needs to be groomed a lot, but he likes it. He sometimes has nightmares.